Death Wobble

[DaveH]

It's not tread wear that is causing the problem. It's the belts breaking and causing the tire to go egg shaped. Egg shaped tires cause problems. Nittos and BFGs are notorious for this. Sister had a F250 death shake violently. BFG tires had less than 12k miles and were the problem. Bad tires cause problems.
If a broken belt tire causes wheel hop and axle shake on a trailer, think of what it's doing to a steering axle. The problem isn't the steering stabilizer as they don't install those on trailers to fix that axle shake.
Steering stabilizers are a band aid, really just don't do anything, and are worthless. Steering problems are from bad engineering. Steering stabilizer doesn't correct engineering mistakes. Get new tires on it or at least have the dealer confirm the condition of the tires and have them show you the balancing sheet.

this^^^^^

had my chevy HD pickup do this. the BFG's had about 20% treadlife left but a violent shaking around 60mph kicked in. tires LOOKED ok....but once dismounted you could see on the inside where the belts had separated and the tire was even taking on an egg shaped out of round condition.

put new tires on it,

as for considering a 4 runner...recently got a 22 TRD....really nice....decent (but not great) fuel economy. its underpowered for towing. i use it for some light load towing stuff (like MAYBE 2500lbs) and it does OK but that's it.

 

[mbrown2]

This is starting to feel like a 2Forceful low key 4 sale thread ... ... Only missing a couple "holy grail" comments... someone's gonna make an offer just to fix this steering issue!

 

[shintoooo]

New tires are on and it feels better driving on the street. The test will be when I pick up my daughter from school tonight. I have to take the freeway. I’ll report back.

 

[C-2]

Our 2014 JK has not experienced the wobble with stock wheels and tires. My co-worker and another former member here have the JL’s and both had the wobble. I only had to replace the motor on ours

There was a recall over the issue. Also, if you take it to a AAA shop they are required to guarantee a fox for 2 years…

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/steering-damper-recall-and-death-wobble.36187/page-2

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I swear...

That has to be the FUGLIEST automobile that has Ever graced this planet. Boggles my mind how anyone could own one of those things!

Yep. I heard those 20 year old F350s were designed by Pininfarina!

 

[Mr. C]

Is it tonight yet. ??
Inquiring minds need to know.
I am hoping for the best for you and no issues.

 

[zhandfull]

I’m sure glad I can’t afford the JL stock or with the premium lift kit and tires.

I have a 2014 with 106k miles. Stock steering, bushings, and ball joints. A shitty lift, shitty tires and no death wobble. It does drive pretty nice though. Love my Jeep.

 

[Gelcoater]

@shintoooo

Leaving is hanging.

 

[Riverbottom]

I’m sure glad I can’t afford the JL stock or with the premium lift kit and tires.

I have a 2014 with 106k miles. Stock steering, bushings, and ball joints. A shitty lift, shitty tires and no death wobble. It does drive pretty nice though. Love my Jeep.
View attachment 1166668

And you found a parking space on the main street !

 

[shintoooo]

@shintoooo

Leaving is hanging.

Daughter is in the school play so she gets out of school late.

Ok so I drove there and back and the issue is gone. . On the way back going over bumps I thought it was doing it again but the steering wheel was not shaking so it’s just in my head lol.

So it looks like the issue is fixed, permanently or temporarily, I don’t know. Now my wife says to just keep the car because it’s almost paid off and she doesn’t want me to spend money on another car right now in this market.

I’m going to drive it for the next week or two to make sure it’s safe to drive and then we’ll decide what to do.

Thanks for everyone who took time to give me advice. Looks like I just needed new Fucking tires even though I had thread left on the old ones. You live and learn.

 

[Gelcoater]

Daughter is in the school play so she gets out of school late.

Ok so I drove there and back and the issue is gone. . On the way back going over bumps I thought it was doing it again but the steering wheel was not shaking so it’s just in my head lol.

So it looks like the issue is fixed, permanently or temporarily, I don’t know. Now my wife says to just keep the car because it’s almost paid off and she doesn’t want me to spend money on another car right now in this market.

I’m going to drive it for the next week or two to make sure it’s safe to drive and then we’ll decide what to do.

Thanks for everyone who took time to give me advice. Looks like I just needed new Fucking tires even though I had thread left on the old ones. You live and learn.

I still think you should just go buy her the Lambo SUV she deserves.

 

[hman442]

I swear...

That has to be the FUGLIEST automobile that has Ever graced this planet. Boggles my mind how anyone could own one of those things!

Much less pay upwards of a quarter million for the privilege!

 

[Gelcoater]

I would do all this but I'm just an accountant and I might get my hands dirty and break a nail.

You might not be Jeep material if....

 

[DaveC]

She drove a Mercedes and never really liked it. She's not into luxury cars. She would rather have a Jeep or a 4runner or something similar. That's why I married her.

Oh sure that’s why you married here …..lol

 

[rivermobster]

Yep. I heard those 20 year old F350s were designed by Pininfarina!

Much less pay upwards of a quarter million for the privilege!

Right? I paid around 15k for my POS?

Really don't care if it's ugly. 23 years later, it's still doing everything need it to do.

Except maybe for that cracked windshield. The glare is kinna a pain in the azz!

 

[mash on it]

Right? I paid around 15k for my POS?

Really don't care if it's ugly. 23 years later, it's still doing everything need it to do.

Except maybe for that cracked windshield. The glare is kinna a pain in the azz!

View attachment 1166763

I can hear that truck from here.
Clack, clack, clack, clack...

Dan'l

 

[rivermobster]

I can hear that truck from here.
Clack, clack, clack, clack...

Dan'l

Hell yeah!!!

 

[Your ad here]

Daughter is in the school play so she gets out of school late.

Ok so I drove there and back and the issue is gone. . On the way back going over bumps I thought it was doing it again but the steering wheel was not shaking so it’s just in my head lol.

So it looks like the issue is fixed, permanently or temporarily, I don’t know. Now my wife says to just keep the car because it’s almost paid off and she doesn’t want me to spend money on another car right now in this market.

I’m going to drive it for the next week or two to make sure it’s safe to drive and then we’ll decide what to do.

Thanks for everyone who took time to give me advice. Looks like I just needed new Fucking tires even though I had thread left on the old ones. You live and learn.

I was having Nitto tires break belts with anywhere from 30%-80% tread left. I was able to get them prorated.

 

[Sherpa]

Shintoooo I think you need to sell the deathmobile. I’ll go 10,500 (a little higher than the other guy offered). Lol.

Sounds like a lot of comments on possible fixes from the group.. hope it stays running/driving safely now..

On another note, I’ve noticed 4Runners don’t retain value at all…. Literally a 10 year old runner is 5-8k…. I don’t know why.

 

[rivermobster]

Shintoooo I think you need to sell the deathmobile. I’ll go 10,500 (a little higher than the other guy offered). Lol.

Sounds like a lot of comments on possible fixes from the group.. hope it stays running/driving safely now..

On another note, I’ve noticed 4Runners don’t retain value at all…. Literally a 10 year old runner is 5-8k…. I don’t know why.

I worked for Toyota for a few years. They have a Bad reputation from Way back in the day when just about every V6 engine had to be replaced.

They were also Gutless wonders back then! They were embarrassing to drive.

I've never driven a new one, so I don't have any idea how they are now, but their reputation ain't so hot. Hopefully they are Much better now.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Well, I picked up the car and drove it on the freeway to pick up my daughter from school and it happened again. Twice on the way there and twice on the way back home.

I do need new tires but they’re not bald or anything. Could tires be the reason? That just doesn’t make sense to me. I’ve owned many cars and drove on bald tires when I was broke and this never happened.

What’s the consensus? I feel like I should sell the car and move on. I don’t think a three year old car with 33K miles should have these issues.

100% -- Tires (and just tires) can be the reason. I wasn't exaggerating in my post!

 

[Bigbore500r]

Right? I paid around 15k for my POS?

Really don't care if it's ugly. 23 years later, it's still doing everything need it to do.

Except maybe for that cracked windshield. The glare is kinna a pain in the azz!

View attachment 1166763

It amazes me how you can fold every thread into a 7.3 Powerstroke reference

 

[Ziggy]

I can hear that truck from here.
Clack, clack, clack, clack...

Dan'l

I named my 7.3PSD Click-Clack, lol

 

[rivermobster]

It amazes me how you can fold every thread into a 7.3 Powerstroke reference

That would have been large orange lips, not me!

 

[pronstar]

On another note, I’ve noticed 4Runners don’t retain value at all…. Literally a 10 year old runner is 5-8k…. I don’t know why.

Seriously?

It’s literally one of the best vehicles to own from a depreciation POV as far as I can tell

 

[C-2]

Seriously?

It’s literally one of the best vehicles to own from a depreciation POV as far as I can tell

That's what I observed, too. I was going to buy one used but didn't want to pay the crazy price everybody was asking. I ended up with an Infiniti FX35

Same deal for the daughter - before we bought the Jeep we looked at them...nope, too expensive.

 

[Cole Trickle]

Seriously?

It’s literally one of the best vehicles to own from a depreciation POV as far as I can tell

Yep

Tacoma 4runner and jeep wrangler are all at the top of the resale list.

Even before CV19 4 runners brought a premium. I would be surprised if you could get a TRD version anywhere near sticker.

I think the hack is to get a couple year old lexus version. It's way nicer on the interior has a v8 with a tad more hp (4 runner is sloooooow)and for some weird reason they don't hold there value the same.

 

[Runs2rch]

Yep

Tacoma 4runner and jeep wrangler are all at the top of the resale list.

Even before CV19 4 runners brought a premium. I would be surprised if you could get a TRD version anywhere near sticker.

I think the hack is to get a couple year old lexus version. It's way nicer on the interior has a v8 with a tad more hp (4 runner is sloooooow)and for some weird reason they don't hold there value the same.

What is the Lexus model? 470?

 

[pronstar]

What is the Lexus model? 470?

GX, either 470 (older) or 460 (current model)

 

[Bigbore500r]

Seriously?

It’s literally one of the best vehicles to own from a depreciation POV as far as I can tell

I assumed they were being sarcastic.......

That, and the comment about "toyota's bad rep for reliability" lol

 

[rivermobster]

I assumed they were being sarcastic.......

That, and the comment about "toyota's bad rep for reliability" lol

Toyota has had their issues, just like every car company out there.

The 4Runner had a really wierd deal no one could ever explain...

When the driver's side head was removed, it looked like electrolysis ate at the block. There was a grove etched in the block at the lower right hand surface right around the water jacket opening. There wouldn't be a mark on the head.

I was shop foreman at Longo when this was going on, and we had almost 100 dead 4runners out back at one time.

It was an absolute cluster, and Toyota never really figured it out, they just replaced the short block and prayed.

There were other deals as well during my days with Toyota. No manufacturer turns out perfection every time.

I hated going on a test drive with a customer in an Avalon. The amount of squeeks and rattles in those cars was unreal. It was embarrassing.

I worked for Lexus for a few years before I moved to Toyota. The difference in quality was...

Surprising.

 

[blefever]

Friend of mine has the same truck, same problem. Been dealing with lemon law for 2 years now…

and now Ford bounced the check to my Credit Union for the pay off. lol. It's been 3+ weeks and still Ford has not made good on the check. I just got a letter from the credit union wanting a payment and saying they are going to buy new insurance and charge me for it since we dropped our insurance when the truck was turned in. And I used to be a loyal Ford Truck buyer...no more.

 

[Activated]

Jeep 'Death Wobble' settlement could mean repair reimbursement for some owners

The proposed Jeep "Death Wobble" settlement would cover 2018-2020 Jeep Wranglers and 2020 Jeep Gladiators.

www.freep.com

 

[pronstar]

Jeep 'Death Wobble' settlement could mean repair reimbursement for some owners

The proposed Jeep "Death Wobble" settlement would cover 2018-2020 Jeep Wranglers and 2020 Jeep Gladiators.

www.freep.com

Their fix is a new steering damper, which only treats the symptom, not the cause.
I have a feeling more litigation will come of this.

 

[Your ad here]

Funny this comes up. I got a 2012 F250 truck to drive for work... has death wobbles at 55 mph. Front tires are like 15% and have never been rotated. Gonna rotate today and see what happens tomorrow.

 

[CLdrinker]

Caster will usually fix death wobble

 

[f12517]

Funny this comes up. I got a 2012 F250 truck to drive for work... has death wobbles at 55 mph. Front tires are like 15% and have never been rotated. Gonna rotate today and see what happens tomorrow.

Does it have the FX4 package? Trucks of that vintage have issue with one or both front shocks going dead and causing a death wobble when bumps are hit

 

[done]

I agree that a stabilizer is a bandaid, but, the factory installs them, and when they get weak or lose their fluid, here comes the wobble. Replace it, it's usually fixed. Alignment counts too, as do worn parts, but sounds like the OP Jeep is a low miler with stock tires.

My jeep with 37" tires did it a time or two hitting pot holes.....New stabilizer fixed it .

 

[Your ad here]

Drove the truck this morning and positive results. The death wobble is gone since I rotated the tires. Front tires are nice and flat. I suspect the coil sprung monobeam axle trucks are sensitive to caster and cupped tires, which my steer tires were severely cupped. Rotating every oil change will reduce the chance of death wobble and prolong the life of the tires. Even if a tire has good tread, >85%, it can still be cupped, visually hard to see and cause problems. I'm running 60 psi front and 70 psi rear.

 

[pronstar]

I'm running 60 psi front and 70 psi rear.

Empty?
That’s gotta hurt

 

[Your ad here]

Empty?
That’s gotta hurt

Empty and loaded. That psi is were the tires wear the best. Wear flat instead of edges or center. Ride is firm. Not to hard not to squishy. Sometimes I'll run the front at 55.